Ben Affleck’s New Crime Thriller Holds Netflix’s No. 1 Global Spot for 2 Weeks Despite Negative Reviews

Ben Affleck’s latest crime thriller has defied critics by holding the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s global top 10 for two consecutive weeks, according to the streaming giant’s official data. The film, which has drawn mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, is resonating strongly with audiences worldwide, proving that star power and genre appeal can overcome critical panning. Affleck, who both stars in and produces the project, anchors the film with a performance that has been described as reliably intense, even as some reviewers have called the plot formulaic. The movie’s sustained success highlights a growing trend where streaming viewership and audience engagement matter more than traditional critical reception, especially for mid-budget thrillers. With no sign of slowing down, the film is on track to become one of Netflix’s most-watched original thrillers of the year, cementing Affleck’s status as a bankable leading man in the streaming era. For Netflix, the film’s performance reinforces the value of acquiring star-driven genre content that can dominate global charts, even when reviews are lukewarm.